Pizza Market Podcast
On this episode of the Pizza Market Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Market, talks to Joe Carlucci, founder and proprietor of Valentina’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar in Alabama. Carlucci, who has dozens of years in pizza, is a member of the World Pizza Champions and a pacesetter within the business.
March 11, 2026
On this episode of the Pizza Market Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Market, talks to Joe Carlucci, founder and proprietor of Valentina’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar in Alabama. Carlucci, who has dozens of years in pizza, is a member of the World Pizza Champions and a pacesetter within the business.
Carlucci opened Valentina’s, named after his daughter, within the midst of COVID. Previous to that, he’d owned a pizza meals truck and would take it to neighborhoods to offer pizzas to neighborhoods throughout the COVID lockdowns. He would promote greater than 500 pizzas per week, and saved each dime to open his brick-and-mortar restaurant.
What began in a 1,500-square-foot area with 12 staff has became a 196-seat, 50-plus-staffed full-service restaurant. The unique location was throughout the road from a cotton subject. Carlucci would arrive at 4:30 a.m. and make pizzas all through the day. He is since moved to a bigger location and has skilled a handful of pizzaiolos whom he trusts to make the model’s signature pies. He sources as a lot as he can domestically.
Carlucci has entered and gained a number of awards on the Worldwide Pizza Problem at Worldwide Pizza Expo. When he creates a brand new pizza, although, it is not with judges in thoughts — as an alternative he thinks concerning the clients first. However when his pizza creations win awards, he places them on the menu. It has been an incredible promoting outlet for Carlucci.
Carlucci employed a mixologist to pair signature cocktails along with his artisan pizzas, so there is a craft cocktail checklist, and curated beer and wine lists.
“I need to elevate this place. I do not need it to only be a pizzas place. … It isn’t a pizza place. From the hostesses attire to the bartenders in bow ties, to each single server, appears the very same method,” Carlucci mentioned. “The usual is the usual right here. We’re not fearful about what all people else is doing. We’re fearful about what Valentina’s is doing. How Valentina’s may very well be higher.”
To study extra about how Carlucci is altering the pizza sport, take heed to the podcast in its entirety.
